The forgiveness aspect of our redemption was accomplished on the cross of Calvary. When we receive Christ and then walk in Him, we are always in a state of forgiveness. We are without condemnation. However, our forgiveness is not unconditional. It depends on our walking in the light of God's will. We automatically are candidates for admission to Paradise when we die if we are walking in the light of God's will. But residence in Paradise is not the scriptural goal of man's salvation.

The transformation aspect is another matter. To be transformed into Christ's image and to be brought into untroubled union with God through Christ requires the destruction of our adamic nature—all of it, the good and the bad!—and the creation and refinement of Christ's Nature in our personality. Included also is the eternal dwelling of the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit in our personality.

In our day the forgiveness aspect of the new covenant is expanded until it becomes the covenant. "Grace" is defined as an alternative to righteous behavior. Grace has been made a synonym of forgiveness, the idea being that God has forgiven Gentiles so they may enter Paradise apart from a change in their behavior. This is totally unscriptural.

When one examines the nature of the new covenant (Hebrews 8:10-12) it can be seen that the major feature of the covenant is the writing of God's laws in our mind and heart, which indicates the creating of righteous behavior in our personality, while forgiveness is added as a provision that keeps us holy while the required change is taking place.

By no means is forgiveness the central provision of the new covenant even though it is preached as such in our time.

There are several major types in the Old Testament of our progress from initial salvation to the fullness of God. For example, the seven feasts of the Lord can be studied in the twenty-third chapter of the Book of Leviticus. The first four feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost symbolize the spiritual graces that give us the authority and power to enter the Kingdom of God.

It is the last three feasts, the Blowing of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the feast of Tabernacles, that symbolize our actual entrance into the Kingdom of God. They portray the method God uses to transform our personality. We enter the Kingdom of God only as our personality is transformed. There is no worldliness, lust, or self-seeking in the Kingdom of God. Any part of our personality that persists in the love of the world, fleshly lusts, or personal ambition is not of the Kingdom of God.

We can see from the above that there is a difference between having as our goal entrance into Paradise and having as our goal entrance into the Kingdom of God. Adam and Eve were in Paradise but not in the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.